Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Sweet and Salty Candy Bar Brownies

I've been sensing a disturbing trend, and I'm not sure I like it! Maybe its just me, but seems these days, its pretty hip for women to claim "I never cook!" or refer to their pimped out kitchen tools as simply decoration. Being involved in the food community shields me from anti-cooking attitudes as I'm {virtually} surrounded by talented chefs and passionate foodies. However in 'real' life, I've found it hard to find many women who actually admit to loving the very fine art of making food, then stuffing your face full of said food.

Sweet and Salty Brownie

Alas, here I am: an island in a sea of non-cooks and dainty eaters. Prove me wrong, world! You too can cook...I promise :) In the meantime, here's some delicious sweet and salty brownies to help inspire you to get in the kitchen.

There are few things in life that I love more than the sweet and salty combo.  I mean, I'll even eat fries and dip them in soft serve ice cream.  Gross, ok.  But don't blast it until you try it...


Sweet and Salty Brownie


I first spotted the recipe for these decadent brownies on Cakespy's Serious Eats posting.  Using an already delicious brownie batter recipe as the base, add roasted peanuts, salty pretzels, caramel and in my case, chopped chocolate candy bars and you have yourself quite the amazing dessert.  Cakespy uses Ghirardelli caramel chocolate, but since I have just about every type of chocolate candy except this kind, I substituted some Belgian chocolate bars with a crispy cookie filling and a little bit of caramel.  Close enough, I say.


Sweet and Salty Brownies
Adapted from Cakespy and Betty Crocker's Cooky Book 

2 squares unsweetened chocolate (2 ounces)1/3 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts
3.5 ounce candy bar of your choice, coarsely chopped (try using Ghirardelli chocolate caramel bar, Twix, or Take 5)
20 pretzels, crushed into small pieces (i used a mortar & pestle)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper and spray lightly with cooking spray.
2. Whisk flour and baking powder in a small bowl
3. In a large saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over low heat until melted; stir frequently to avoid scorching.
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly; beat in sugar and eggs.  Add in the flour and baking powder mixture, blending well.
5. Mix in the nuts and chocolate candy bar.  Add in the pretzel pieces last, mixing only until they are incorporated.
6. Spread the mixture into the pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until top has a dull crust and a slight imprint remains when touched lightly. Cool slightly and cut into squares.

23 comments:

Joanne said...

I find that attitude so strange but that's probably because I take pride in my ability to cook. I feel like it's just a defense mechanism...they don't know how to cook and so they brag about it to prevent themselves from feeling flawed.

These brownies look amazing! I love sweet and salty as well...bookmarked for sure!

Alee said...

These look wonderful! I agree that cooking is fun. I didn't think I liked it before I got married, but now I love trying new things for DH and I.

Kerstin said...

I love the pretzels in these! I've been putting pretzels in all types of cookies lately, but haven't tried it with brownies yet - yum! People that don't cook don't know what they're missing!

Laura said...

I saw "sweet" and "salty" and had to come check it out asap. Fabulous! Hey have you seen Salty Sweets by Christie Matheson? You'd like it I bet...

PS Bird eaters drive me nuts.

Esi said...

You know I love to cook...and I'll take ten of these bars, thanks!

La Bella Cooks said...

I love a good brownie but a kicked up version is even better. I never get those women who wear it as a badge that they can't cook. I think it is more like they won't cook....lol.

noble pig said...

Do you know that's one of the reasons I started a blog, I was hoping to inspire anyone who couldn't cook to hopefully make something. I was surrounded by so many who couldn't make an egg. I no longer feel that way as a food blogger. Our food communities are now all over the world. Anyway beautiful, evil dessert here...love it.

grace said...

how anyone could be proud of the fact that they can't cook is beyond me. weirdos.
and speaking of weirdos, if dipping your fries in a wendy's frosty is weird, than i wholly embrace that descriptor. :)

Meghan said...

I love the sweet/salty combination too - these look so good! Twix is one of my favorite candy bars.

I think I get a false sense that most women out there cook because of all the cooking blogs I read! It's so strange to me when I hear someone say they don't cook because I wonder, "well what do you eat then?"

kat said...

Yeah, I don't know how people can spend their lives not cooking its such a joy.

Aggie said...

I get the reaction all the time "how do you find the time to cook so much?"...well, I really don't think I cook all that much, I'm just feeding myself and the fam, which makes me wonder if they aren't cooking then what are they eating? I am amongst quite a number of noncooks...not sure if they really are or not though?

Sweet and salty combined is my favorite thing ever!!! These bars are calling my name! :)

Melissa said...

I know how you feel! 2 out 5 of my sisters in law cook (and I am one of the 2.)

One of the non-cookers has a kitchen only one could dream about. In fact, I was the first one to cook in it and they thought the oven was broken...wrong-that is the sound of a convection oven! Seriously!!!

Your brownies look amazing!

Maria said...

I love sweet and salty treats. YUM!

Anh said...

This looks really good. Yum!

Heather said...

This recipe actually made me do a spazzy little "Oh my god oh my god oh my god" in my head. It's just like a Take 5 Bar...in BROWNIE FORM! I am all over this and will make it very soon. Thanks for this!!

The Blonde Duck said...

If I could only eat chocolate...

vanillasugarblog said...

you know I love the whole salty & sweet food group!! LOL

Chef Fresco said...

I love this recipe! Mmm pretzels and chocolate are the best! And so are french fries dipped in milkshakes :)

Jennifer said...

I LOVE the combination of sweet in salty! Ive done it in other sweets but not brownies! bookmarking this!

Anonymous said...

Wow, these sound and look absolutely delicious! I love the idea of adding candy bar chunks to brownie mix-I'll definitely have to try that soon!

Sophie said...

I have also dipped fries in shakes or ice cream! :D
I'm a big fan of sweet and salty, especially where chocolate's involved.

I know what you mean about ladies saying they can't cook or don't know how to boil water! I have to admit, that was me right out of college...but desperation and hunger (and the food network, of course :) were very good teachers :).

Anonymous said...

I make something similar - sweet & salty blondies with pretzels & chocolate chips and nuts! Adding a candy bar sounds like a good idea. :)

Justin said...

this sounds so good